India

How to measure slope and mark contours
A brief on how to measure slope by making use of gravity with a protractor and a straw Posted on 15 Sep, 2009 04:43 PM

You can measure slope by making use of gravity. Find a protractor for measuring angles. Attach a straw across the straight edge of the protractor.

How to create a farm pond for water storage
Details on how to make a farm pond Posted on 15 Sep, 2009 03:56 PM

The ideal farm pond should be dug into the ground in a naturally low-lying area. Some of the soil that is removed can be used to construct an earthen berm around the pond, which should be planted with trees and grasses for stability. The shade and wind protection provided by the raised mound and vegetation will reduce evaporative losses.

Groundwater recharge structures
A brief on groundwater recharge structures Posted on 15 Sep, 2009 03:41 PM

Side view of a simple soil pitWhere conditions are favorable, it is better to recharge the groundwater than to create surface ponds for storage. This approach minimizes evaporative losses, and often improves water quality. Recharge structures can be anything from a small pit simply dug into the soil, to a borewell converted for recharge. Recharge structures are useful in sloping landscapes where the water would not otherwise have time to sink into the ground before running off.

The how and why of tank restoration
Restoration of tanks- More cost effective that building new ones Posted on 15 Sep, 2009 02:19 PM

Where possible, it is much more cost effective to restore existing tanks, than to build new tanks. Restoration can involve silt removal to increase the storage capacity of the tank and reduce evaporative loss. The silt can be used to restore the earthen bund, and any remaining silt can be applied to nearby farmland. The outflow structure can also be improved.

Tank Development - Design and features
A write up on building tanks for water conservation and storage Posted on 15 Sep, 2009 02:11 PM

If the intention is to develop a tank by holding back a large amount of water, then the dam must be carefully designed (with the assistance of experienced local people or engineers).

How to create check dams for water conservation
A series of pictures that show one farmer’s success with building a percolation tank just upstream of a series of check-dams. Posted on 15 Sep, 2009 01:07 PM

In addition to controlling gully erosion, check dams also serve to slow the movement of water, allowing increased percolation into the soil. Just above a check dam is a good place to put in a percolation structure. Silt that builds up behind the dam creates good farmland, which can be planted after the rains while it retains moisture. The following series of pictures show one farmer’s success with building a percolation tank just upstream of a series of check-dams.

How to control gully erosion
A brief on methods for controlling gully erosion Posted on 15 Sep, 2009 12:58 PM

Gully ProblemOver the years, unchecked soil erosion can lead to the formation of deeper and deeper gullies. There are several methods for controlling gully erosion, which can be chosen depending on the materials available.

Vegetative Strips

 

If it is a small gully, vegetation can be planted in strips across the gully to slow the velocity of water, trap silt, and prevent further erosion.

Techniques to slow runoff and erosion from steeply sloping land
An in depth analysis on the techniques useful for areas with high rainfall, steep slopes, and thin soils Posted on 15 Sep, 2009 12:37 PM

Techniques for Steeply Sloping LandThese techniques are useful to slow runoff and erosion from sloping land, and also to revegetate degraded areas. Areas with high rainfall, steep slopes, and thin soils should use slightly graded bunds / terraces / trenches to allow some drainage.

Tips for using bunds in cultivated Land
Benefits of using bunds in cultivated lands and the vegetation/ trees to be grown on it Posted on 15 Sep, 2009 12:06 PM

Bunds have many benefits, including marking the boundaries of farm-holdings, slowing the movement of soil and water, and providing a place for integrating trees into agricultural systems. Here are some tips for using bunds within farmland:

  • Cattle should be kept away from the area while establishing saplings, by using livehedge fencing. Cactus, Euphorbia spp, and Agave are useful for a livehedge fence.
  • Larger trees can be planted on boundary bunds, and smaller trees which will be harvested more frequently can be planted on internal bunds, which divide one holding into separate sections.
How to restore highly degraded lands
A brief on how rocks maybe utilised to protect existing stumps from browsing and allow regeneration Posted on 15 Sep, 2009 11:51 AM

In places where the land is too degraded for agriculture and the soil is too shallow for bunding, rocks can be used to protect existing stumps from browsing and allow regeneration. Rock fences can also be used to protect areas planted with fodder species. Hardy, drought tolerant trees such as neem, tamarind, custard apple, acacia, and eucalyptus can be planted.

×